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The Tunku Mahkota Johor said it was not right for sponsors to threaten to withdraw their sponsorship. — Picture by Choo Choy MayKUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 — FA of Malaysia (FAM) president Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has stressed that each effort and contribution for the development of football must continue even if he no longer helms the national football governing body.

The Tunku Mahkota Johor (TMJ) said sponsors threatening to withdraw their sponsorship if he was no longer FAM’s president was not right.

He was referring to the intention of Ampersand Sports Sdn Bhd chairman Tan Sri Vincent Lee wanting to withdraw from being the exclusive agent to find sponsors for the M-League if TMJ were to give up the presidency of FAM.

“I do not agree that if I am no longer around (as president of FAM) sponsors should withdraw their sponsorship. All sponsors must understand that their sponsorship is in the national interest,” he said in a statement issued by FAM here today.

At a press conference in Johor Bahru yesterday, Vincent said the involvement of his company in assisting Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (FMLLP), the company running the M-League, was because of the crediblity and vision of TMJ who is truly committed to bring Malaysian football to greater heights.

Meanwhile, Tunku Ismail said that he was of the view that to bring Malaysian football back to its glory days would only be achieved if all stakeholders were willing to be united to contribute the work needed.

“If we are united and there is solidarity, Insya-Allah we will achieve our targets. But if it is the opposite and we want to keep quarrelling among ourselves, Malaysian football will not get anywhere,” he said.

At the same time, Tunku Ismail gave his assurance that FAM under his leadership was willing to give the best to save the reputation of Malaysian football.

“What we are trying to do now is to give football back to the ‘rakyat’ (people) . No cronyism or self interest. I do not want FAM to take even one sen but give broadcasting rights to all competing teams,” he added. — Bernama